{
  "id": 10410897,
  "title": "Higashiyama to Step Down as Chief of Talent Firm Smile-Up.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/higashiyama-to-step-down-as-chief-of-talent-firm-smile-up",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-28T09:14:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Nippon.com News",
    "slug": "nippon-com-news",
    "url": "https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2026092800563/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Noriyuki Higashiyama, the president of Japanese talent agency Smile-Up., Inc., announced on September 28 that he will be stepping down from his position. Masayuki Yamada, the chief compliance officer at Smile-Up., will assume the role of president effective Thursday, following the expiration of Higashiyama's term. Julie Keiko Fujishima, who succeeded Higashiyama, will continue to serve as a representative director.\n\nHigashiyama took the helm at Johnny & Associates in 2023, succeeding his predecessor after a sexual abuse scandal involving the agency's late founder, Johnny Kitagawa. That same year, Johnny & Associates underwent a rebranding, becoming Smile-Up., and transferred its talent management operations to a separate firm dedicated to compensating sexual abuse victims. Smile-Up. explained that the decision to replace their president is driven by the growing necessity for legal procedures and expert judgment in handling compensation matters. Higashiyama emphasized during a press conference in Tokyo that this change does not signify the cessation of support for victims, assuring that they will endeavor to fully compensate for the harm caused to every individual.",
  "summary": "Tokyo, Sept. 28 (Jiji Press)--Noriyuki Higashiyama, president of Japanese talent agency Smile-Up. Inc., formerly Johnny & Associates Inc., said Monday that he will step down from his position. Lawyer Masayuki Yamada, chief compliance officer at Smile-Up., will take over as president, effective Thursday, after Higashiyama's term expires. Julie Keiko Fujishima, Higashiyama's predecessor, will ...",
  "key_points": [
    "Noriyuki Higashiyama resigns as Smile-Up. president on September 28",
    "Masayuki Yamada becomes new president effective Thursday",
    "Julie Keiko Fujishima remains as representative director"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}